US and Chinese poultry industry’s gather at Sino-US forum

US and Chinese government officials and representatives from the US and Chinese poultry and feed grains industries gathered in Beijing last week for the inaugural Sino-US Poultry Industry Forum.

The forum marks the first time that the US poultry, soybean and grains industries have come together with the Chinese poultry industry for bilateral dialogue on key issues and imminent challenges such as food security, food safety and sustainability.

Co-sponsored by UIPDP (USAPEEC International Poultry Development Program) and the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the US-China forum preceded two industry-to-industry workshops in Vietnam aimed at strengthening the relationship between the US and Vietnamese poultry industries. More than 250 people took part in those workshops in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Supported by USDA and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the US-China Forum was co-organized by the UIPDP with assistance from the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), the US Grains Council, the Food and Agriculture Export Alliance (FAEA), the China Animal Agriculture Association (CAAA) and the China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce (CFNA).

Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse was among a group of high-level officials from USDA, MOA, the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) to take part in the Beijing forum.

In his remarks, Scuse said the forum was a milestone by which to measure the advancement of the strong relationship that is developing between the US poultry and feed sectors and their Chinese counterparts.

USAPEEC / UIPDP President Jim Sumner said that the forum "symbolises that our industries are well integrated and rely on close cooperation and a working relationship that assures that poultry is produced in a safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. The wide range of Chinese and US organisations that are supporting this forum shows that poultry quality and safety begins at the farm, but it is the responsibility of every segment of the food chain to enhance and assure that safety is maintained and improved all the way to consumption."

Speakers included Dr Don Jackson, former CEO of Pilgrim's Pride and JBS USA; Gordon Butland, noted international protein economist; Dr Sarge Bilgili, an Auburn University poultry scientist; Dr Shelly McKee, director of technical programs at USAPEEC, Sumner and numerous other US and Chinese experts on food safety and bio-security.